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Surfing is considered an excellent sport for those who love the beaches and the nature. It can be a healthy way to tone your body and socialize. Above all, surfing is a union of mind and body workout. It is a form of relaxation and stress reliever, and at the same time, a carbs and fat burning sport. Be that as it may, it can also turn out as an incredibly dangerous activity. Aside from the obvious danger of drowning and deadly marine creatures that can harm you, the wave that makes an awesome ride, can also turn out to be a negative factor.

Waves possess massive impacts that may hurt a surfer’s body, especially the jaws. They may also cause some harmful effects to the teeth. The seawater, when ingested, can produce too much sodium in the body. With the increase amount of sodium, more and more calcium is excreted in the urine, making teeth and bones weaker. However, wearing mouth guards during surfing can alter these expected oral catastrophes, mouth protections are very much advised to be worn by surfers for many reasons and some are listed.

They protect your jaws.

Mouth guard must be worn when surfing to protect the facial mandible. It provides a good frame of support from the wave clashes. With the help of mouth protectors, the possibility of enduring a jaw dislocation will be eradicated. Furthermore, the jaws are positioned in a more relaxed manner when wearing a mouth guard, thus, it promotes less tension on your jaw muscles while being too excited for that upcoming perfect wave.

No more biting your own tongue.

Surfing is a game of balance, but the beach can also be mean sometimes. All surfers, even the pros have their fair share of off balances and epic face-first crashes. As a result, tongue biting happens. Those who love to surf, especially the amateurs is strongly advised to wear mouth guards to avoid these happenings. No surfers should experience biting their tongues with the help of mouth protections.

It protects your teeth.

You can never tell when accidents could happen. The possibility of hitting your fellow surfer or bumping to some rocky formation of the sea is always present. To help prevent teeth falling and chipping due to trauma, mouth guards must be worn all the time. It gives 360 degrees of protection inside your mouth and thus covers your teeth. The soft inside lining of the mouth guards absorbs the shock and spares your teeth from the effects of any massive trauma. If you do happen to lose a tooth, check in with the professionals and get those teeth repaired right away.

It helps decrease the chances of concussions.

Outdoor sports can never rule out the possibility of accidents, and that does not exclude surfing. Since it is a very physical activity involving a board to ride the waves, surfing becomes a considerably risky sport. Head trauma is also considered a huge possibility but with the help of mouth guards, it can be lessen. The new technology of mouth guards today has the capability to absorb the impact from the blow of either waves or other solid objects surrounding the surfer. The same breakthrough also spares the head from enduring trauma and helps prevent internal bleeding.

I grew up in a small California community that had access to a beautiful lake that I always enjoyed spending time in. My parents owned a little cabin on the lake and there we had access to canoes, kayaks and other equipment to be used in the water. I would always have friends over in the summertime to stay for weekends or even weeks to play out on the water, exploring every cove of the lake and just having a really great time. Back then, I had never even heard of Paddle Boarding but now it is one of the fastest growing sports in North America.

The reason for its success I think is because it is such a great exercise option for those looking to get out on the water and enjoy the sunshine. It is also very social which is also a big draw for people who are looking to participate in an activity which is both physically demanding and fun. I spent an afternoon with a group of young adults from a local community group and we hit the beach to try out paddle boarding and although I had done it many times before, it was amazing how much fun it was for everyone including first timers.

Often times when a sport or activity is challenging from the get-go it leaves a lot of people out who feel too intimidated to participate. An example of this would be tennis which has a very steep learning curve from the beginning which makes it hard for people to connect with the sport right away. Paddle boarding however is quite simple in concept which allows people to try the sport who might never have looked at water sports as an option.

The other thing I really like about paddle boarding in particular is how great of an abdominal workout it is. When you’re standing on the board, you are forced to activate your core and as you paddle, maintaining a strong core becomes increasingly more of a challenge especially as a beginner. If you begin to lose control, you’re probably going to lose balance and might end up in the lake! The best part about ending up in the lake is that it’s probably the most refreshing thing on a hot day that often times, paddle boarders will jump off of their boards just for fun.

Paddle boarding is one of my favorite activities nowadays and one that I hope you will explore to as it’s allowed me to stay fit!

Looking to get started with paddle boarding? This article will cover the basic gear and techniques to get you up on your way!

I briefly discussed what you’ll need in my last post, you can find that here. If you want a really in-depth guide to paddle boarding gear check out paddlers retreat. If you read that article you’ll know you need the following

A Paddle Board

A Leash

A Paddle

A Personal Floatation Device

Appropriate Clothes.

I mostly want to talk about the paddle board and the paddle. The leash and the PFD is pretty straight forward. Of course the clothes can be a bit trickier but overall if it’s cold bring a wetsuit if it’s warm bring sunscreen and a nice hat to protect your face from the sun!

The board is the most important part of the experience. It’s also the most expensive piece of equipment you’ll need to buy, so getting it right is very important! You don’t want to end up with a board that is completely out of your element or is so cheap it can’t hold your weight!

They had worked out agreements with the big players in the market to make sure the prices were “set”. So Tower Paddle Board’s did what any sane person would do. Build your own plant.

The result? They produce and sell high quality inflatable boards for several hundred dollars cheaper than the competitors. Since then other players have emerged in the market place but in our opinion Tower’s Adventurer still remains the premium board under $800.

If you want to spend a little bit less you can look at the solstice which is a pretty good board in it’s own right. It’s not as firm when fully inflated at the Tower Board but in terms of bang for your buck the solstice is pretty darn hard to beat.

Other alternatives include Pelican and Isle. They both offer decent boards for under $1000.

What About The Paddle?

Don’t skimp on the paddle. Buy a tower paddle board to save a few bucks and then buy a carbon fibre paddle.

You can get an aluminum model, but it’s just not worth it! Buy a quality paddle, the aluminum ones are simply too heavy. Carbon fibre will cost you another $100 but it’s money well spent if you plan on spending any time paddling.

Also make sure you get a paddle that is 6-8″ bigger then you. If you buy a paddle that is too short you minus well be standing on a paddle board that doesn’t hold your weight!

Standup paddling otherwise called SUP has been around in its current modern structure for 10 years. Despite the fact that a standup paddle board is not yet as recognizable as say, a bike, SUP is without a doubt getting recognized. Almost every body of water, around the world, has turned into a playground for standup paddlers.

If you read the last article which covered the history and gears for Paddleboarding, then I’m sure you’re now eager to learn how to take your paddleboard in action. If you already have the gears ready with you, then we can get started!

Taking your Board to the Water

Most SUP boards have a built-in handle. Simply lean the board on its rail (edge), then reach for the handle (a grasp in the middle of the board) and tuck the board under one arm. Bring the paddle with your other hand.

For longer distances or if your board has no handle, you should to carry your paddleboard on your head. Here are some tips to get it done:

Stand the board on its tail (end) with the deck (top of the board) facing you.

Lay your paddle on the ground inside easy reach.

Handle the rails (the edges of the board) with both hands.

Walk yourself under the board so your head is about halfway between the nose (front) and the tail.

Stand upright with the board overhead, still holding it by its rails.

Twist down to get your paddle and head for the water.

Standing on Board

For a person like you that’s new to the game, its best to begin in flat, calm water that is free of snags like boats and buoys. At first, you may find it easier to kneel on the board instead of standing upright. Here are the steps to kick you off:

Standing alongside the board in shallow water, put your paddle over the deck of the board and use it as an outrigger. The paddle grip is on the rail (edge) of the board; the blade rests on the water.

Hold the board by the rails. One hand will additionally be holding the paddle grip.

Pop yourself onto the board into a kneeling position, just behind the center point of the board.

From that kneeling position, get a feel for the balance point of the board. The nose shouldn’t pop up out of the water and the tail shouldn’t delve in.

Keep your hands on either side of the board to balance out it.

Once you’re prepared, stand up on the board one foot at a time. Place your feet where your knees were. You may additionally bring a friend to help balance out the board as you get the hang of standing on it.

One of the quickest growing watersport in the World, stand up paddle boarding is developing very fast. You can do it on any body of water from seas, lakes, rivers and bay – even a swimming pool if it’s huge enough. It’s an incredible full body core workout and is an even better approach to experience the water in the outdoors. Individuals of all ages, skill levels, and experience could be up and riding right away. There is even room to toss a little youngster or a dog on board.

The Inventor of Paddle Boarding

Maui surf legend Laird Hamilton was searching for an approach to cross train for enormous waves in the early 90’s. He got a canoe paddle and his longest surfboard and discovered paddling while upright to be an awesome workout. A lot of people erroneously accept he designed the sport of paddle boarding, however, its unique roots dates back over a huge number of years to ancient Hawaiian, Peruvian and African culture. Every one of the 3 culture had some type of paddle boarding, however, the Hawaiians are given the credit as the first to really surf waves with a paddle for actual sport and had a saying to depict surfing with a paddle as Hoe He’e nalu.

Paddle Boarding Gear

Stand-up paddle board - The way to discovering a decent fit is to talk with a certified paddleboard expert and try out the boards in the water before you purchase them to get an idea regarding how they handle. Wider, flatter boards are more stable, and a basic, all-around board for most guys has a tendency to be something like 12 feet to 12 feet 6 inches in length, for example, the Riviera Voyager. You’ll be spending at least $800 to $900 on a basic yet quality board. Purchasing a paddleboard is an investment, as is purchasing, say, a road bike, however it won’t lose its dollar value because you can always sell later.

Paddle: Stand up paddles differ, however most have a straight shaft with an angled blade whose size is specific to every person. A decent dependable guideline is to pick a paddle that is something like 10 inches taller than you in case you’re flat-water paddling. The grip ought to be at midpalm with shoulders square and hand extended overhead. A good paddle will cost you about $300-$400, yet you shouldn’t need to ever replace it.

Standup Paddleboard Leash: Maybe one of the most imperative pieces of equipment is the leash, the thing that connects you to your board. For any paddler, this little thing can mean the difference life and death. If you find yourself tired and you’re still a long way from shore, the leash will keep your board inside your reach if you fall in. Even in a light breeze, your board will go out of your reach in seconds.